The Supreme Court of Bharat has taken action on Trinamool leader Mahua Moitra’s petition challenging her expulsion from the Lok Sabha. The court has issued a notice to the Lok Sabha secretary general, requesting a reply within three weeks. However, the court has not permitted Moitra to participate in Lok Sabha proceedings during this time.
Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha last month after the ethics panel found her guilty of sharing her parliamentary login details with businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for bribes.
Moitra’s Defense and Supreme Court Appeal
Moitra, in her defense, claimed she shared login credentials with Hiranandani to have his staff type out her queries on the Lok Sabha portal. She denied any exchange of bribes. Following her expulsion, Moitra approached the Supreme Court, arguing that the ethics panel lacked the authority to expel her, and there was no evidence of her accepting cash from Hiranandani.
She also highlighted that the panel did not allow her to cross-examine Hiranandani and her former partner Jai Anant Dehadrai, the original complainant.
Allegations and Vow to Fight BJP
Hiranandani alleged in an affidavit that Moitra accepted gifts in exchange for allowing him to post questions on the Adani Group in Parliament. Despite her expulsion, Moitra vowed to continue her fight against the BJP, citing instances of objectionable remarks against minority MPs in Parliament.
Moitra strongly criticized the BJP, stating, “I am 49 years old, I will fight you for the next 30 years, inside parliament, outside parliament, in the gutter, on the street.”
Accusations of Surveillance and CBI Complaint
Meanwhile, advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, the original complainant, accused Moitra of conducting surveillance on him. He revealed filing a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), describing the situation as dangerous but emphasizing his commitment to not back down. Dehadrai also mentioned alleged financial support from individuals in Odisha against whom he filed a complaint to the CBI.
The unfolding events suggest a complex legal and political battle involving key figures, ethics violations, and a determination to persist despite legal challenges.
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